Launching the People’s Governance Platform

Stage Four of The Founding Assembly’s plan marks the moment when our digital governance system truly comes to life. In this stage, the nationwide rollout of our blockchain based platform begins, putting powerful new tools directly into the hands of everyday Australians. Every citizen and permanent resident can now download and use the Founders Wallet app, a secure digital wallet that will serve as their key to this new system. Through the wallet and platform, people will register and verify their identity, receive a unique digital ID token, and start participating in decisions that could shape a brand new, citizen built Constitution. While the system is fully functional and open to all, it’s important to note that its decisions aren’t legally binding yet. Stage 4 is about building consensus and momentum. This is a peaceful and transparent practice run for democracy, gathering the public’s voice over time and preparing the ground for real legal change in the future.

Nationwide Rollout of the Blockchain Platform and Founders Wallet

After extensive development in earlier stages, the blockchain governance platform is now rolling out nationwide. This means any Australian citizen or permanent resident can access the online portal (via web or the Founders Wallet app) to join the governance system. The platform itself runs on blockchain technology, a distributed digital ledger that records transactions and data in a tamper proof, transparent way. In plain terms, blockchain makes sure that every action on the platform (like a vote or a proposal) is securely recorded and cannot be illicitly altered. No central authority can secretly manipulate the results; the system’s design guarantees integrity by relying on verifiable code and a network of computers rather than any single server.

Founders Wallet is the personal gateway for users. It’s a secure digital wallet application created for this platform, and it’s much more than a typical crypto wallet. The Founders Wallet is where your digital identity and voting credentials live. When you first sign up, the wallet will guide you through identity verification and then hold your credentials (like your identity token). It also is the tool you’ll use to browse proposals, sign petitions, and cast votes. By using a wallet app, the process is made as simple as possible, you might compare it to a secure online banking app, but instead of handling money, it handles your democratic participation. The nationwide rollout ensures that every Australian adult who wishes to take part can do so, regardless of location. As long as you have an internet connection, you can use your phone or computer to engage with this new people powered governance system. This wide availability is crucial for inclusivity: urban or rural, all communities can connect into one nationwide forum.

Public Registration and Identity Verification

To maintain a fair and trustworthy system, Stage 4 opens public registration with strict identity verification for all participants. In practice, this means when you sign up on the platform (or via the Founders Wallet), you will go through a secure process to confirm you are a real Australian citizen or a permanent resident. This could involve providing a form of official ID or using an authorized online verification service. The goal is to ensure that each person is who they claim to be and that each person can only register once. By limiting the platform to verified Australians, we prevent fake accounts or duplicate accounts from skewing the process. One person gets one account, period.

It’s natural to have questions about privacy here. Rest assured, the verification process is private and secure, your personal documents or details are not exposed publicly. They are checked by the system (or trusted verifiers) just enough to confirm your eligibility. Once verified, you’re onboarded as a participant in this digital democratic experiment. Your profile on the platform doesn’t need to display your name or personal info; it will simply show that you’re a verified user (often this might be through a pseudonymous ID or a cryptographic proof). This balance means any Australian can confidently participate knowing everyone else is real and eligible, without trolls or bots, but also without sacrificing personal privacy. Only Australian citizens and permanent residents can vote or propose, keeping the focus on those who are part of the Australian community and subject to its laws. By Stage 4’s design, the system is as inclusive as possible (welcoming all backgrounds and viewpoints) yet also protected against fraud or manipulation through rigorous ID checks.

Soulbound NFT Identity Tokens – Your Digital ID

One of the innovative features of the Stage 4 platform is the issuance of soulbound NFT identity tokens to each verified user. That sounds complex, but it’s simply the technology that makes the one-person-one-account principle possible on the blockchain. When you complete your registration and verification, the system mints a soulbound NFT (non-fungible token) into your Founders Wallet. This token is basically a digital identity card or badge that proves you’ve been verified. The term “soulbound” means this token cannot be transferred or sold to anyone else – it’s permanently bound to your account (or “wallet”), much like a soulbound item in a video game that can’t be given away. In other words, your identity token is unique to you and you alone. Even if someone offered you money, you couldn’t give them your token or get a second one – the system simply doesn’t allow it. This ensures absolute fairness and security: no one can game the system by accumulating multiple identity tokens. As blockchain experts describe, soulbound tokens are non-transferable tokens representing a person’s identity on the blockchain​. They serve as proof of personhood in our platform.

What does this mean for the user in plain language? Think of the soulbound NFT as a digital passport or voter ID. When you log in, the platform checks your wallet for that ID token. If it’s there and valid, you’re recognized as an authorized participant. You won’t need to repeatedly prove your identity each time you vote or support a proposal – the token acts as a cryptographic certificate of your citizenship status. However, nobody can just copy or steal your token either; because it’s in your secure wallet and tied to your identity, it’s as safe as your private keys. Also, these identity tokens carry no personal information on their face – they might just be a number or code linked to a verified account. So your privacy remains protected while the system can still enforce that each person gets exactly one vote. This technology is cutting-edge, but the platform will make it seamless for users. You might not even need to think about the NFT aspect at all – after you sign up, it’s just automatically there in your wallet, quietly doing its job of saying “Yes, this wallet belongs to a verified Aussie”. This is a foundational piece that enables everything else: because of soulbound identity tokens, the platform can be sure that every proposal, petition signature, and vote comes from a real, unique individual.

Launch of the Proposals and Petitioning System

With Stage 4, the proposals and petitioning system goes live for public use. This is where the real participatory action begins. Every verified user now has the ability to draft and submit proposals for new sections or amendments to our crowdsourced Constitution. In a traditional system, only politicians draft laws or constitutional changes, but on this platform any citizen can be a lawmaker. Have an idea for a rights clause to add to the Constitution? Or think an existing draft section should be worded differently? You can put forward a proposal for the community to consider.

To manage this in an organized way, the platform includes a petitioning mechanism. The petition step is designed to gauge initial support for a proposal before it goes to a full vote. When you submit a proposal, it doesn’t immediately get voted on by the whole country; first, it is posted publicly for everyone to read and discuss, and it begins as a petition that others can sign. If your idea resonates with people, other users will digitally “sign” or endorse your proposal to indicate they agree it should move forward. This is very much like how one might sign a paper petition in the physical world to show support for a cause.

Typically, a proposal will need to gather a certain minimum number of signatures (or a percentage of the user base) to demonstrate that it has sufficient backing to merit a national vote. The exact threshold can be adjusted for fairness, but the principle is that the community itself filters proposals by supporting the ones they care about. This ensures that not every single idea (no matter how niche) clogs up the voting system, only those that gain some traction proceed. It’s a democratic way to prioritize issues. In practice, a proposal’s journey might look like this:

1. Drafting a Proposal: A citizen writes up a proposal for a new constitutional section or an amendment (for example, adding an environmental protection clause in the constitution). They submit this through the platform, and it becomes visible to all other users.

2. Petition Phase: The proposal enters a petition phase where all users can review it, comment on it, and choose to sign the petition if they support the idea. The proposal might need, say, a few thousand signatures or a certain percentage of active users to qualify for the next stage.

3. Reaching the Threshold: If the proposal gains enough signatures, it passes the threshold. This triggers the system to schedule a nationwide on-chain vote on that proposal (often after a set period to allow ample discussion and awareness).

4. Nationwide Vote: All verified participants are notified and given the chance to vote “Yes” or “No” on the proposal (more on the voting system below). The voting is done securely on the blockchain platform.

5. Adoption into the Draft Constitution: If a majority (or whatever voting rule is set for adoption) votes in favor, the proposal is approved. It then becomes an official part of the evolving citizen-built Constitution. The text of the Constitution on the platform is updated to include this new section or amendment. If the vote fails to reach a majority, the proposal is rejected (and perhaps can be revised or revisited later through a new petition if people feel strongly).

This proposals-and-petitions system means the agenda is set by the people. There’s no top-down control over what can or cannot be proposed. One week, the hottest proposal might be about electoral reform; the next, it might be about indigenous rights or healthcare. It’s direct democracy in action at the constitutional level. Every proposal page on the platform will show the current support count and allow users to click “Sign” to add their name in support (with their identity token ensuring they only sign once). Transparency is key: you can see how much support each idea is getting in real time. And because everything is recorded on-chain, the count of petition signatures is verifiable and can’t be falsified. By launching this system, Stage 4 empowers Australians to drive the conversation about what the new supreme law of the land should include, rather than leaving it to career politicians or experts alone.

Activation of the Secure On-Chain Voting System

Perhaps the most significant feature going live in Stage 4 is the secure on-chain voting system. Once proposals have passed the petition stage, they are put up for a national vote on the blockchain platform. This is where every verified citizen gets to have their direct say. If you’ve signed up and obtained your soulbound ID token, you are now essentially a voter in this parallel constitutional convention. Through your Founders Wallet or the web interface, you can cast votes on proposals that have made it to the ballot. Each vote you cast is recorded on the blockchain ledger, which brings huge advantages for security and trust.

On-chain voting means that the tally of votes is transparent and tamper-resistant. In traditional elections, we rely on officials and paper ballots or opaque software to record and count votes, and fraud or errors (while uncommon in Australia’s well run elections) are still a concern in many places. With blockchain, however, the system provides a built-in guarantee: once a vote is recorded, it cannot be changed or removed without it being glaringly evident. Independent observers (or even any tech-savvy participant) can audit the blockchain records to verify the counts. This level of transparency is unprecedented in large scale voting. As one analysis of blockchain voting noted, blockchain technology’s inherent security, transparency, and resistance to tampering give it the potential to revolutionize voting systems​. In our context, it means everyone can trust that the online votes are counted exactly as cast, because any attempt to interfere would be caught by the system’s cryptography and public ledger.

Of course, voting is secret, the platform is designed so that while the fact of your vote is recorded, it does not broadcast your personal identity or how you voted to the world. There are cryptographic techniques (like using one-way cryptographic hashes or issuing voting tokens) to ensure anonymity is preserved, similar to how a secret ballot works. The Founding Assembly’s system will use such techniques so that votes remain private to the individual, even as the overall totals are public. Essentially, you might see on the blockchain something like “Wallet XYZ123 cast a vote”, but you won’t know who that is in real life or what choice they made, unless they themselves decide to reveal it. This way, the integrity of the vote is paired with the protection of voter privacy.

Another benefit of an on-chain vote is speed and efficiency. Votes can be counted instantly as they come in, and results can be tallied immediately when the voting period ends. There’s no need for manual counting or waiting days for results. It also lowers the cost of conducting frequent votes since it’s all digital, we could feasibly hold a mini-referendum on the platform whenever needed, without enormous expense. Stage 4 activates this capability, meaning that as soon as a proposal is ready, a vote can happen. In summary, the secure on-chain voting system provides a foundation of trust: every participant can have confidence in the democratic process. By combining secure digital ID with blockchain recording, we get as close as possible to an unriggable, incorruptible voting method. It’s democracy secured by math and code.

Using the Platform to Build a Citizen-Written Constitution

With proposals flowing and voting enabled, Stage 4 allows Australians to begin actively drafting a new Constitution from the ground up. This is a historic endeavor, a Constitution is the highest law of the land, and usually citizens only get to accept or reject one written by politicians. Here, the people themselves are the authors. Using the platform, we can propose, debate, refine, and adopt new sections of what could eventually become a citizen-built Constitution. Think of the platform as a continuous constitutional convention, but one that is open to anyone, not just a select few in a room.

As Stage 4 progresses, you’ll see a living document take shape on the platform. Initially, it might start as a skeleton framework or even a blank slate. Over time, through everyone’s contributions, that document will fill up with articles and sections covering all aspects of governance, rights, government structure, community principles, and more. Each section gets there because someone proposed it and the community agreed through the petition and voting process. And nothing is set in stone, even after being adopted on the platform: if down the line people feel a certain section needs changes, amendments can be proposed and voted on in the same way. This means the document remains dynamic and truly owned by the people who participate. It’s a crowd-sourced and crowd approved charter, reflecting the evolving consensus of Australians engaged on the platform.

For example, one group of citizens might propose a “Bill of Rights” chapter to ensure certain freedoms and rights are explicitly protected. That proposal might gather huge support and be voted in, becoming a cornerstone of the new draft Constitution. Another proposal might suggest the way Parliament is elected should change; if it passes, the Constitution’s section on elections is updated to the new agreed version. Over weeks and months, more proposals big and small will accumulate. The platform will likely organize these into categories or a coherent structure, so it reads like a proper constitutional document rather than a random collection of clauses. By the end of Stage 4 (or as it continues), we might have a fully fleshed-out “People’s Constitution” that has legitimacy in that it has been directly approved, section by section, by thousands (eventually millions, we hope) of citizens.

It’s important to stress how inclusive and democratic this process is. Everyone has an equal vote on each section, and an equal right to propose changes. There’s no weighting by wealth or status, the soulbound identity token makes sure a billionaire’s vote counts the same as a student’s or a pensioner’s. Moreover, the platform is transparent: debates and discussions around each proposal can happen openly (the system might have forums or comment sections for reasoning). This way, each constitutional idea is shaped by public discourse. We’re essentially writing our nation’s foundational document in the open, with input from any citizen who cares to join. It’s a chance to bring in voices that historically were left out of such high-level discussions, minorities, youth, everyday workers, everyone gets a platform and a vote.

By the end of Stage 4, Australia would have, in effect, two constitutions: the old one, still the law of the land (for now), and a new one, written and agreed upon by a segment of the Australian people through this digital process (but not yet legally enacted). This new constitution is not just a wish list; it’s a detailed, structured draft of how Australians want their nation to be governed moving forward. And it has the weight of demonstrated public support behind it, thanks to the secure voting records. In Stage 4, that new constitution remains a sort of “people’s blueprint” influential, but not legally recognized by the government. The goal is to build as much consensus and buy-in as possible, so that we have a strong mandate when the time comes to push for official adoption.

Functional but Not Yet Law – Building Consensus First

A critical thing to understand about Stage 4 is that it is an exercise in direct democracy and consensus-building, not an immediate change in law. The digital governance system is fully functional: we have real people voting on real proposals, and those results are recorded. However, none of the outcomes from the platform (yet) have legal force in Australia’s official government. The existing Australian Constitution and laws remain in effect as is. In other words, if our platform community “passes” a new freedom-of-speech clause for the draft Constitution, that doesn’t automatically change how courts or Parliament operate the next day. At this stage, the new citizen-built Constitution is provisional, it’s a proposed charter, not an enforceable one.

Why run a system that isn’t legally binding? Because this is how we peacefully and methodically build the case for change. Stage 4 is about proving the concept and gathering popular legitimacy. We are, in essence, conducting a large-scale public referendum informally, section by section, over time. By the end, we’ll have a collection of decisions that show what a large number of Australians want in their Constitution. This approach lets ideas be tested and refined without immediate risks. If some proposal turns out to be unpopular or problematic, it can be altered or removed in subsequent votes, all before anything is locked into law. It’s a safe “sandbox” for improving ideas with broad input. It also gives everyone time to reflect, debate, and adjust their views. Changing a nation’s Constitution is a big deal, rushing it or forcing it without consensus could be chaotic. Stage 4’s platform avoids that by not imposing anything legally, but by patiently building consensus until there’s a clear, strong public mandate for each part of the new charter.

Throughout this stage, the data on consensus is accumulating. We’ll know, for example, that 82% of participating citizens approve adding environmental protection to the Constitution, whereas maybe only 55% agreed on a certain change to the Senate structure, indicating more discussion might be needed on that. These are invaluable insights. Media, academics, and even politicians may start taking note: this platform is effectively running the largest ongoing public consultation in our history. As participation grows, it might become a barometer of public opinion on constitutional issues.

The non-binding nature of Stage 4 also helps keep it lawful and non-confrontational. We are not declaring a new government or defying the existing law; everything we do is within our rights as citizens to discuss and advocate for change. Think of Stage 4 as forming a giant, organized voice of the people. It stays entirely peaceful, there is no illegality in voting on a website or issuing a token. It stays transparent, anyone can observe the process and results. By the end of this stage, we aim to have both a well crafted proposed Constitution and a demonstrated record of massive public support for it. That combination is our strongest asset when moving to the next step: seeking formal recognition of this new Constitution.

Moving Toward a Lawful Referendum (Section 128 Path)

Once our platform reaches critical mass - that is, a large and representative portion of Australians are participating and a clear consensus on the new Constitution has emerged – The Founding Assembly’s plan is to push for a lawful referendum to make it official. In Australia, the only way to change the Constitution legally is through the process outlined in Section 128 of the Australian Constitution, which requires a national referendum. (Section 128 basically says any constitutional change has to be approved by the people via a yes/no vote nationally.) The catch is that normally a referendum can only be initiated by the federal Parliament drafting a change and putting it to the people. Our challenge will be to convince the Australian government to hold such a referendum to adopt the people’s charter that’s been developed on our platform.

How can we do that? The key is lawful, peaceful public pressure. Showing the government that the will of the people can’t be ignored. When the time comes, The Founding Assembly and its supporters plan to employ every democratic and legal means available to advocate for a referendum on adopting the new Constitution. This could include a variety of strategies working in tandem, for example:

• Industrial action and peaceful protests: Organizing lawful industrial actions (strikes, work stoppages) and public demonstrations can signal how serious and unified citizens are about this cause. Imagine major unions and workers collectively demanding a constitutional referendum, done peacefully and within the bounds of the law, this puts pressure on political leaders to listen.

• Formal petitions and legal lobbying: We can initiate official petitions to Parliament (with potentially millions of signatures collected through the platform and in person) calling for a referendum. Teams of legal experts and advocates will engage with lawmakers, presenting the draft Constitution and its broad support as evidence that a referendum is necessary. Lobbying efforts will aim to get political champions on our side, members of Parliament who might introduce the referendum bill or push it in government forums.

• Voting campaigns and electoral action: The movement can coordinate efforts during elections, urging the public to support candidates (or parties) that commit to a referendum on the new Constitution. This could mean forming a political wing or simply a public pledge campaign to pressure all candidates to endorse the idea. If enough pro-referendum representatives are elected, Parliament will have to act. At the very least, widespread voter engagement on this issue will make it a national conversation that politicians can’t ignore.

• Community outreach and awareness: Concurrently, we’ll run strong public awareness campaigns through social media, community meetings, schools and universities, and media outlets, to educate everyone about what the new Constitution entails and why it’s beneficial. The more people understand and get excited about the vision, the more irresistible the push for a referendum becomes. This also ensures that when a referendum does happen, people are informed and ready to vote “Yes” for the change.

All these measures are entirely lawful. They are about exercising our democratic rights, freedom of speech, right to protest, the power of our vote to achieve change. There is no place for violence or coercion in this strategy. History has shown that sustained, united public pressure can bring about even the biggest changes in a society. For example, think of the civil rights movements or the push for women’s suffrage, when enough people rallied peacefully behind a just cause, eventually the laws had to catch up. Similarly, our collective will, demonstrated through the platform and through these lawful activities, can create a situation where the government of the day sees a Section 128 referendum not as a choice, but as a mandate they must carry out.

It’s worth noting that Section 128 referendums themselves require a double majority (a majority of voters nationwide, plus a majority of states) to pass. That’s a high bar, and historically many referendums fail. But by the time we call for one, we aim to have already achieved a kind of “pre-referendum” consensus on the platform. In other words, we’ll go into that campaign with the wind at our backs: a solid majority of engaged citizens have already voted for the new Constitution online, and we can show that fact in our campaigning. That will be a powerful argument to win over the undecideds when the official vote happens. Stage 4 is essentially years of campaigning and consensus-building in advance of the real referendum.

Peaceful, Lawful, and Transparent Change – Not Force

Throughout Stage 4 and the journey to come, The Founding Assembly emphasizes peace, lawfulness, and transparency. Our movement is about working within the system to improve the system. We firmly reject any notion of violent uprising or unlawful coup, not only would that be wrong, it would be counterproductive to our goal of a fair and enduring democracy. Instead, we’re doing this the right way, through unity and informed participation. Every meeting on the platform, every vote, every petition is out in the open for the public to see. The blockchain records and public discussions ensure nothing happens behind closed doors. When we advocate in the real world, we do so openly and respectfully, using facts, reason, and the strength of our collective voice.

This stage is a peaceful revolution of ideas. It may feel revolutionary to be writing a new Constitution from scratch, but it’s being done with pens and keyboards, not swords or guns. By remaining peaceful and lawful, we keep the moral high ground and bring more people to our cause (because it’s inclusive and non-threatening). It also means there’s no excuse for authorities to shut us down; we are not breaking any laws. We are exercising our existing rights to achieve better rights. The transparency of the process builds trust. Participants and observers alike can verify that the movement isn’t being hijacked by extremists or secret agendas. Everything is recorded, and every major decision requires broad public approval on the platform.

When the time comes to rally for a referendum or other actions, this principle stays the same. Imagine thousands marching in Canberra or in city streets with signs not of anger but of hope, urging for their vote to be formally recognized. Or workers staging a one-day nationwide peaceful strike not to harm the country, but to underscore how passionately they want a say in their Constitution. These actions aren’t about strong-arming anyone; they are about showcasing unity. They send a clear message: the Australian people are coming together for a positive change, and we invite our leaders to join us, not resist us. Lawful public pressure is powerful because it carries moral weight. We’re essentially saying, “We have built consensus the right way. We have played by the rules. Now, all we ask is to let the nation vote on it officially.”

A Hopeful Vision of a People-Led Constitutional Future

Stage 4 is a giant leap toward an unprecedented future – one where the people have a direct hand in writing and updating the rules by which the nation lives. It’s a future where the public isn’t just consulted occasionally; instead, the public continuously participates in governance at the highest level. By engaging now on the platform, ordinary Australians are gaining an influence over the country’s direction that previously only politicians and constitutional scholars had. This is profoundly empowering. Your voice matters, and not just as a shout into the void, but as a vote that will be tallied on the blockchain and could become part of the supreme law of Australia.

The vision that drives The Founding Assembly is one of unity and collective empowerment. We believe Australia can become a shining example of a modern democracy that evolves with its people. Instead of a static constitution from another era, we envision a living charter that reflects today’s values and can adapt to tomorrow’s needs because it is built and maintained by the people, for the people. In this hopeful future, when citizens see a problem in society, they have a direct path to suggest and implement solutions via this governance platform. The government of the future, under a people-built Constitution, would be truly accountable and answerable to the people’s ongoing consensus, not just to infrequent elections.

As Stage 4 unfolds, we invite every Australian to become a Founder of this new system by joining and contributing. The more people participate, the stronger and more legitimate our new Constitution becomes. Even though it’s not law yet, every vote you cast and every proposal you support is laying the groundwork for history. It’s similar to how each person who debated and refined ideas at the original constitutional conventions (back in the 1890s for Australia) helped shape our nation, but now that privilege is extended to all of us, not just a select few. This inclusive approach means the final product will be better and fairer, capturing the diverse voices of Australia.

In conclusion, Stage 4 is the dawn of something truly hopeful: a people-led constitutional future. It demonstrates that change doesn’t require violence or top-down decree; it can grow organically from the collective will of ordinary citizens. By the time we reach critical mass, we won’t just have a document, we will have built a community, educated ourselves, and shown that Australians can come together across differences to design our shared destiny. Then, armed with unity and an undeniable mandate, we will peacefully press for our vision to be recognized under law. And if and when that moment of a national referendum comes, it will not be a shot in the dark, but the natural culmination of the consensus we’ve been building all along. Together, through Stage 4 and beyond, we are proving that the true power in Australia belongs to its people and that's when we exercise this power wisely and lawfully, there is no limit to what we can achieve.